Lilley v. Joyner
Filing
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ORDER dismissing as moot Petitioner's 17 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and dismissing as moot 18 Motion for Default Judgment, 20 Motion to Appoint Counsel and 22 Motion to Appoint Counsel. Signed by Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney on 2/22/2017. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(nvc)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
5:16-cv-31-FDW
CHESTER LAMBERT LILLEY, JR.,
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Petitioner,
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vs.
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CARLTON JOYNER,
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Respondent.
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__________________________________________)
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court upon Chester Lambert Lilley, Jr.’s pro se Amended
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Doc. No. 17), and
Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. No. 18). Also before the Court are two motions for
appointment of counsel. (Doc. Nos. 20, 22.)
Petitioner is a prisoner of the State of North Carolina, who, on April 29, 2015, pled “no
contest” in Wilkes County District Court to selling marijuana, possession with intent to sell or
deliver marijuana, both offenses occurring on February 12, 2015, manufacturing a Schedule VI
controlled substance, selling a Schedule VI controlled substance, and possession with intent to
distribute, manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, all three offenses
occurring on April 16, 2015. (J. & Comm. Forms, Resp’t’s Ex. No. 3, Doc. No. 9-4.) Pursuant
to his plea agreement with the State, eight other drug-related charges were dismissed. (Tr. of
Plea 4, Resp’t’s Ex. No. 1, Doc. No. 9-2.) Judgment was consolidated under two counts, and
Petitioner was sentenced to consecutive terms of 18-31 months imprisonment. (J. & Comm.
Forms, Doc. No. 9-4.) Petitioner did not appeal his convictions or sentences.
Instead, Petitioner filed numerous pro se letters and motions for appropriate relief in the
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District Court of Wilkes County, including a pro se pleading on or about June 26, 2015.
(Resp’t’s Ex. No. 4 4-8, Doc. No. 9-5.) The state court treated that pleading as a motion for
appropriate relief (“MAR”) and denied it on September 30, 2015. (Order Den. MAR, Resp’t’s
Ex. No. 5, Doc. No. 9-6.)
Petitioner filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254
in this Court on February 11, 2016, when he placed it in the prison mail system. (Pet. 11, Doc.
No. 1.) Respondent filed an Answer, Motion for Summary Judgment, and Supporting Brief on
October 13, 2016. (Doc. Nos. 7-9.) In accordance with Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th
Cir. 1975), Petitioner was notified of his right to respond to the summary judgment Motion.
(Doc. No. 10.) In response, Petitioner sent several letters (Doc. Nos. 11-14), at least two of
which (Doc. Nos. 11, 12), referred to other actions Petitioner had filed in this Court.
On December 14, 2016, the Court entered an Order granting Respondent’s Motion for
Summary Judgment and denying Petitioner’s § 2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Doc.
No. 15.) Judgment was entered the same day. (Doc. No. 16.)
Petitioner filed an Amended § 2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Motion for
Default Judgment, Notice of Appeal, and motion for appointment of counsel on January 3, 2017.
(Doc. Nos. 17-20.) Because Petitioner’s motions and Amended Petition were filed after
Judgment was entered by this Court, they are moot and will be dismissed as such.
Petitioner’s Notice of Appeal (Doc. No. 19) was transferred to the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals on January 10, 2017. On January 23, 2017, Petitioner filed a motion for appointment of
counsel in the Fourth Circuit, which deferred action on the request pending initial review of
Petitioner’s appeal. See Lilley v. Joiner, No. 17-6033 (4th Cir.) (Doc. Nos. 5, 7).
Notwithstanding the Fourth Circuit’s deferral of the issue, Petitioner filed another motion for
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appointment of counsel in this Court on February 16, 2017. (Doc. No. 22.) This motion also
shall be dismissed as moot.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1) Petitioner’s Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc. No. 17) is
DISMISSED as moot;
2) Petitioner’s Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. No. 18) is DISMISSED
as moot; and
3) Petitioner’s motions for appointment of counsel (Doc. Nos. 20, 22) are
DISMISSED as moot.
Signed: February 22,
2017
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